Balzan-Birkirkara 3-2
Balzan: S. Sultana, J. Grioli, S. Bezzina, E. Serrano Valero, E. Bilbao Zarate, O. Guobadia, C. Brincat, L. Micallef (M. Borg 90’), O. Guerrero, J.P. Mifsud Triganza (L. Sciberras 79’), G. Piccioni
Birkirkara: J. Haber, M. Bissi, E. Costa Morais, N. Vukanac, R. Rodrigues Ledesma (A. Mendoza 65’), P. Fenech (L. Grech 65’), Z. Muscat, R. Scicluna, E. Herrera (K. Zammit 85’), R. Camenzuli
Scorers: E. Costa Morais 27, 42 (Bi), J.P. Mifsud Triganza 34’,60’, O. Guerrero (Ba)
Yellow Cards: O. Guobadia 17’, J.P. Mifsud Triganza 45’, L. Micallef 54’, S. Sultana 88’ (Ba), Z. Muscat 76’ (Bi)
Referee: Marco Borg
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Luke Portelli
BOV Player of the Match: Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza (Balzan)
TMI Top 3: 1. J.P. Mifsud Triganza (Ba) 2. E. Bilbao Zarate (Ba) 3. A. Costa Morais (Bi)
Attendance: 785
A stoppage time goal by Oscar Guerrero was enough for Balzan to give Birkirkara their first defeat with a 3-2 win. Although the match was a balanced affair, Balzan played a very good, disciplined and spirited game.
On the other hand after three wins, this was a disappointing afternoon for Birkirkara. The stripes weren’t in their usual form and the Maltese players didn’t perform to their level lacking also Gareth Sciberras and Edmond Agius from the midfield.
Balzan are now jointh in first place with Mosta on 10 points while Birkirkara are stuck with nine points in third place.
Balzan coach Oliver Spiteri made one change from the win against Qormi with Clive Brincat starting ahead of Luke Sciberras. On the other side Birkirkara coach Paul Zammit prefered Matheus Bissi and dos Santos Gonzaga instead of Alejandro Mendoza and Leighton Grech respectively.
Birkirkara threatened the post for the first time on the 12th minute when Edward Herrera tried with a cross shot but Sultana saved. Two minutes later Micallef passed to Piccioni but his shot finished over the bar. Four minutes later Birkirkara replied with a free-kick by Ledesma that was saved by Sultana.
Birkirkara took the lead on the 27th minute when Ledesma passed to Antonio Costa Morais who lobbed with a header over Sultana. The stripes lost their lead seven minutes later as Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza’s shot looked easy for Haber but the Birkirkara shot stopper didn’t hold the ball and finished in the net.
Birkirkrara made a reaction and went close on the 39th minute when a central shot by Paul Fenech was saved by Sultana and a minute later a header by Ledesma finished wide. Balzan replied with an acrobatic shot by Zarate which was saved by Haber. The stripes took the lead on the 43rd minute when Bezzina cleared, the ball finished on Antonio Costa Morais’s foot who controlled and beat Sultana with a low shot.
Balzan went close to equalise on the 52nd minute when Piccioni gave a good ball to Mifsud Triganza but his shot from an ideal position finished off target. Two minutes later a shot from close range by Guerrero also finished off target. Oliver Spiteri’s team went close on the 55th minute when Zarate passed to Lydon Micallef but his shot finished wide. Balzan equalised on the hour mark when Piccioni’s shot was blocked and the ball finished to Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza who nailed with a first time shot.
Birkirkara’s reaction came on the 71st minute when substitute Leighton Grech made a one-two with Gonzaga but Sultana was ready to block. On the 77th minute Haber saved a good free-kick by Piccioni. Birkirkara had a golden opportunity on the 83rd minute but Gonzaga fired over the bar from an ideal position.
Balzan scored the winning goal on the 92nd minute when Oscar Guerrero received a good ball from the right flank, he cut to the centre and with a good left foot shot put past Justin Haber to put the Balzan supporters and players in an ecsastic mode.